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"id": 184943,
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"content": "It is a shame that we, in Africa, do not take our war veterans seriously. As early as 1636, the white men went to America and when they got there, they wanted to occupy Americas. They were killed. Those people who were killed then were recognised as war veterans and rewarded appropriately. Many countries are doing that. I want to quickly highlight to hon. Members the success story in the United States of America. Those people were referred to as Pilgrims from Plymouth. They met some stiff resistance from the Indians. Very many of them were killed while others were maimed. The then government passed a law to the effect that those people must be protected as veterans. In 1776, there was a revolution in the USA and all those people who died were again rewarded and they are sung heroes today. In 1811, the veterans received the first medical facility by law for the same purpose as in our case. In the 19th Century, the program was expanded to include pensions. America is known for engaging in civil wars and wars with other nations. They have made it worthwhile for them to die that their war veterans get education and housing. That is a nation that recognizes their war veterans; people who fought for a worthwhile cause. Those people who died in Thinyani Island, particularly one woman, I wish the Assistant Minister for Finance was here because he was a small boy then and must have seen it. A woman died as she held soil on her hands. Just before death, she put the soil in her mouth. That was a Kikuyu old woman. They died for the soil. All people who died in the forest devoted their last energy to the soil. They said very clearly that they were dying for that soil. As late as last year, at a place called Ng'arua, which is in Laikipia, somebody died and was buried by the roadside with a 44 year old bullet lodged in his leg. When I sit down, I would like the Ministers to rise and say that they should give the land tomorrow. When a man dies with a 44 year old bullet lodged in his leg and he is buried by the roadside and yet he fought for the land, we have inherited this land and we are enjoying it. It is a habit of this Government and previous governments to solve such a complicated issue as land through commissions and very funny arguments. The first one was in 1897. That was the one that made it possible for the colonialists to come and occupy the land. Other commissions were set up in 1900, 1902, 1905 and 1907. All these were set to try and legalise, as it turned out, the occupation of land, which ended up being about 10 million acres. The Maasai were persuaded, through an illegitimate treaty, to vacate their land so that they could create room for the white settlements. Later on, as it turned out at Lancaster House, this gentleman called Delamere, another mzungu, wrote a letter to the people who were participating in the Lancaster House conference. It said:- \"It must be recognised that few Europeans are likely to remain in Kenya unless they are satisfied that their personal safety---\"That gave rise to Section 75 of our Katiba that guarantees, and gives sanctity to title deeds. Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, the white men not only took our land but helped entrench sections in our own Constitution that guarantee that they remain on that land. All we are October 8, 2008 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES 2553 urging now is; let us be gentle enough to honour that small commitment by those gallant freedom fighters that made me sit here as an hon. Member for Naivasha. Let them be given, together with other freedom fighters, a minimum of 2.5 acres of land, maybe not to farm, but, at least, to be buried on those shambas . With those few remarks, I would like to invite my brother, Mr. Wamalwa, to first of all, since he comes from an area that produced some of the most fantastic war veterans, support this Motion. Thank you"
}